First Real Tripod

[kb244]

For a while I had a cheap piece of shit something sunpak or other that my parents had for their camcorder since the 80s (you know those camcorders that actually took the VHS tapes straight), and when I tripped over the leg and killed it I took it's head onto an even cheaper tripod of the same brand from some thrift store for like 5$. I did not bother to buy anything in the 50-60$ range new because they seemed just as cheap as what I'd get for 5$ to 10$. Also I never had a urgent desire to need a tripod as I would just handhold it for the most part. The biggest times I needed it, was likely when I wanted to do night exposure for over a minute, or take lunar shots off my C90 Mak without the thing slowly falling forward, catching it before it hit a rapid swing down. And lately shooting my 4x5 Crown Graphic via the ground glass. That was the last straw.

So basically I utilized my employee perk and managed to get a good deal (before now I woulda been hard pressed to be able to get this). Well here is what I got and I think it'll be quite suitable for my 4x5 camera as well as something like my RB67, and anything smaller. Though down the road I'll probably get a ball head for anything smaller.

Anyways this is what I got (everything used, but the 3041)

Bogen 3021 Pro tripod
Bogen 3047 3-Way head with it's original "cork material" plate.
Bogen 3041 flat-surface mount permanently attached to the bottom of my Crown Graphic.

 

[reellis67]

That should be a great rig. My 3001 legs and 3-way head have held up remarkably well for over 20 years - and I haven't been overly kind to them either. I really like the Bogen tripods for hiking and travel and even use mine with a 4x5.

- Randy

 

[jovo]

That gear is pretty much a classic pod legs and head combination that works exceedingly well with all but the weightiest cams and lenses. Sadly, the 3047 head is now discontinued and has been replaced (by their own notice) by Manfrotto with a more expensive, spring loaded three way head (I can't remember the serial number.). They (Bogen/Manfrotto) have also replaced the QR plate with another which adds additional expense without any discernable improvement.

Thank goodness pods and heads aren't digital (though for marketing purposes, some claim to be). Even the '''Brand New Latest!!!''' stuff will be good for decades!

 

[photomc]

That gear is pretty much a classic pod legs and head combination that works exceedingly well with all but the weightiest cams and lenses. Sadly, the 3047 head is now discontinued and has been replaced (by their own notice) by Manfrotto with a more expensive, spring loaded three way head (I can't remember the serial number.). They (Bogen/Manfrotto) have also replaced the QR plate with another which adds additional expense without any discernable improvement.

Thank goodness pods and heads aren't digital (though for marketing purposes, some claim to be). Even the '''Brand New Latest!!!''' stuff will be good for decades!

Hi John, I encountered this just last year and must say that while a BIG fan of the 3047, the replacement 808RC4 is a good (and better IMO) replacement for the 3047. The head offers the abiltiy to turn off the spring load, so it will function more like the 3047 (but I find it quite a nice feature) and the QR plates run about $16 USD and offer a larger footprint. Not a big deal on 35mm or even 120, but has been great for the 5x7 and 8x10 cameras. The reason for the QR change is they (Bogen/Manfrotto) are trying to move to just 2 QR plates for all of their heads.

Just my 2 cents, but I really like the new head.

 

[kb244]

I'm drooling over that gear head tho, shame the sucker so damn expensive.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

I have the now discontinued 329RC4 head which is a low profile variant and can support more weight than the 808RC4. The only gripe I have about the new plates is the way they fit on a narrow bottom camera like most SLRs. The plate hangs out front and back quite a ways.

Its a superb plate though for my MF SLR and LF rigs. The head is rock solid and I can get close to the ground with it.